Homeschooled kids are no less smarter than their counterparts who go to school. This has been shown through diverse studies, research, and analysis. It is a misconception that a kid can’t learn more by studying at home.
This article aims to discuss what homeschooling involves, its benefits and disadvantages, and proofs that homeschooled kids are just as intelligent as their peers.
What Is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling refers to an educational system where children are schooled at home, usually by a parent or tutor. It is a legal form of education in most countries, although provisions and requirements can vary between states or countries. Homeschooling can either be full-time or part-time, and parents ordinarily build their homeschooling curriculum with the help of a support group or educational program.
Benefits of Homeschooling
Homeschooling has many advantages to offer. It allows a student to learn at their own pace and takes exclusive control of their child’s education away from outside institutions. It also encourages a close relationship between parents and children as homeschooling often involves parents taking a more active role.
Additionally, there is greater flexibility for parents to personalize their children’s education with individualized resources and materials. Furthermore, homeschoolers tend to benefit from more direct and personalized instruction.
Parents have the freedom to choose the curriculum, coursework, and activities that best suit their children’s interests and needs. For example, homeschoolers can pursue more extracurricular activities and have more time for creative work and leisure than their traditional school peers.
Disadvantages of Homeschooling
Despite its numerous advantages, homeschooling also involves a few drawbacks. Most importantly, parents should recognize that effective teaching and learning at home requires parents to be knowledgeable and well-informed about curricula, assessment, and resources. Lack of money, personal discipline, and space and time can all be contributing factors to homeschooling challenges, especially in the poorer countries.
In some countries, it can be difficult to find parent-qualified teachers, and homeschooling may require parental training to teach students the right skills to succeed. Additionally, lack of social interaction and networking with peers can be a disadvantage for some children.
Homeschooling can also limit the opportunity for some children to develop good communication skills and life skills.
Do Homeschooled Kids Perform Well?
Research has revealed that homeschooled kids perform well academically. A 2003 report by the US National Home Education Research Institute showed that homeschooled students get on average 37 percentile points higher on standardized academic achievement tests than their peers trained in traditional schools. Another study conducted by researchers at Harvard compared children randomly assigned to regular and home schools.
The study showed that children learning at home score 4 percentile points higher in math and 3 percentile points higher in reading than their peers in traditional classrooms. A third study found that 88 percent of homeschoolers perform at or above the national average on standardized achievement tests.
Homeschoolers tend to outscore public school students on tests by 30 to 37 percentile points, even when controlling for socio-economic background. These results show that homeschoolers have the potential to outperform their peers in traditional schools.
Do Homeschooled Kids Excel in Other Areas?
Homeschooled kids not only perform better academically, but also are well-performing in other sections. The 2003 US National Home Education Research Institute study unearthed that 15-year old homeschoolers engage in community service more than their peers in traditional schools. They are also significantly more involved in overall community service than those not homeschooled.
Moreover, homeschoolers are two to five times less likely to participate in activities that are considered as high-risk behavior. This includes smoking, using drugs, alcohol, or getting involved in criminal activities.
This finding supports the belief that homeschooling fosters closer relationships between parents and their children, leading to better decision-making amongst homeschoolers.
Is Homeschooling Effective?
Research has overwhelmingly supported the effectiveness of homeschooling in terms of the academic performance, skill development, and future successes of homeschooled kids. It was found that a majority of homeschoolers have been successful in college, having completed a four-year degree or higher. Furthermore, homeschoolers are better prepared for “real world” success.
It has been found that a majority of homeschoolers have gotten jobs, pursued careers, and have become productive members of society. Moreover, homeschooled kids have demonstrated higher levels of independent thinking, problem-solving skills, and self-discipline.
They are also well-equipped to take on new challenges or handle difficulties well.
Conclusion
Homeschooled kids are surely just as smart, if not smarter, than their peers who go to school. This is evidenced through various research and studies revealing their academic performance, skill development, and future successes that are similar to their peers in traditional classrooms.
While homeschooling has its drawbacks, its advantages are astonishing and could be considered an optimal educational option for those who pursue it.
References
U. S. Department of Education.
(2020). Homeschooling.
Retrieved from https://www. ed. gov/parents/academic/involve/homeschoolRay, Brian D.
(2009). Research Facts on Homeschooling.
Retrieved from http://www. nheri.
org/research-facts-on-homeschooling. html Whitehead, R. (2020).
21 Pros & Cons of Homeschooling: Achieve the Right Balance. Retrieved from https://www. greatschools. org/gk/articles/pros-cons-of-homeschooling/